Attendee Policies

Memberships and Convention Space: “Convention space” is defined as all areas leased by Furry Weekend Atlanta for the convention. This includes all convention space and suites, other miscellaneous rooms, or vehicles that may be under Furry Weekend Atlanta’s control.

Members granted access to Furry Weekend Atlanta and its convention space will be identified by a convention membership badge. Membership badges are the property of Furry Weekend Atlanta for the duration of the convention and must be visibly displayed at all times when in convention space. They must be presented or surrendered to any staff member upon request.

Furry Weekend Atlanta membership badges are issued to a single individual and are not to be shared or duplicated in any way, shape or form. Any person caught using a membership badge other than his/her own will have that badge confiscated and will be asked to either purchase a valid badge or leave the convention space. Any member knowingly allowing another person to use his/her badge will have his/her membership revoked and may be banned from the convention and convention space indefinitely.

Furry Weekend Atlanta reserves the right to request that you purchase a full-price membership to replace a lost or stolen badge. Should you lose your badge, a single replacement badges may be issued for a charge that is less than full price. However, should you lose your badge again, we will ask you to purchase another membership at full price.

Registration is the primary source of income for Furry Weekend Atlanta and therefore acts of forgery or falsification of registration information are taken very seriously. Anyone found with a forged badge or to have provided false registration information, including payment information, will be removed from convention space and barred from attending future Furry Weekend Atlanta Conventions. Anyone repeatedly attempting to enter the convention without a legitimately purchased or obtained membership will be turned over to local authorities on charges of Theft of Services and Trespassing.

Rating: All public spaces in the hotel are to be considered under a PG-13 rating during the day. Please keep in mind that other patrons of the hotel and possibly minors may be present, and your behavior reflects on the fandom as a whole. All daytime convention programming will have a PG-13 rating. Evening events may feature mature topics and strong language, and minors will not be permitted to attend these events without the express written permission of their guardian.

Anyone found violating the PG-13 rating – unnecessarily revealing clothing or behavior, openly displaying inappropriate artwork, etc – will be issued a warning and have their con badge marked. If the behavior persists, the badge will be confiscated and the person asked not to participate in any further convention activities. Blatant disregard for the policies may result in immediate expulsion from the convention. Any behavior or item that is illegal under Federal, State or Local guidelines will not be permitted in public at Furry Weekend Atlanta.

Appropriate Dress and Behavior: We have been asked by the management of the hotel to inform all patrons that shirts, pants/shorts, and shoes are required for safety reasons in all public areas of the hotel. Unnecessarily revealing clothing is the same as not wearing any at all. Once again, this is an area where common sense must be used, and convention security will be allowed to exercise discretion. A good measure would be to think: “Would I wear this in a public park?”

The furry community is known for its friendly hugging, scritching, and holding hands, all of which is entirely acceptable. However, please keep in mind that not all people may share the same view of what is acceptable in public, and that our behavior is representative of the fandom as a whole. Common sense should be a good measure in what behaviors are permissible in public. Regardless, if you feel the need to express deep, physical affection for another we ask that you kindly retire to your hotel room. PLEASE don’t make the staff have to ask you – it’s uncomfortable for us and embarrassing for you.

Please remember that you are a guest in a hotel, and that others not associated with the convention will be present. We can’t stress enough that your behavior reflects on us all! Fighting, horseplay, reckless behavior, and excessively loud noise will not be tolerated. If you are requested to cease a behavior, please do so immediately. Hotel security is empowered to eject people from the convention, and will do so in the event of flagrant or repeated violations of hotel policy.

We’re all here to have fun, and harassment will not be tolerated at Furry Weekend Atlanta. Harassment includes, but is not limited to: punching, striking, kicking, shoving, threatening, stalking, or any close-proximity behavior that occurs that is unwanted by one or more parties. Remember that no means no and go away means go away. Any harassment complaints will be dealt with immediately by convention security.

Security is not responsible for solving interpersonal problems. They are not bodyguards, and can act only when a threat is presented to one or more members of the convention that affects the general welfare of the convention as a whole. We suggest you attempt to simply avoid any individual that makes you uncomfortable for the duration of the convention if that person’s behavior does not fall within the guidelines set forth above for disciplinary action. Security also takes a dim view of wrongful accusation, and it will be dealt with as a form of harassment.

Anyone who harasses or assaults a staff member or volunteer of Furry Weekend Atlanta will be immediately expelled from the convention, barred from attending future conventions, and if warranted, reported to the appropriate authorities.

There will be no sleeping in public areas of the hotel (including the lobby, hallways, meeting rooms or other public areas), as well as in parked cars in the parking lot. This is a violation of the fire code. Individuals who sleep in public areas risk being removed from the building.

We ask that our attendees not attempt to enter into any areas where they are not supposed to go. This includes crossing barriers set up by the convention (such as curtains or ropes) and areas of the hotel where guests are not usually permitted.

Minors: A minor at Furry Weekend Atlanta is classified as an attendee who is under the age of 18 as of opening ceremonies, regardless of the actual day of the convention on which they arrive. A minor attending Furry Weekend Atlanta must either have a parent or legal guardian accompanying them at all times or a signed and notarized parental permission form on file with Furry Weekend Atlanta. Minors will be barred from attending certain events at Furry Weekend Atlanta which may feature mature themes unless they are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Minors under 13 years of age must have a chaperone present and with them at all times they are in convention space.

Any attempt to forge or falsify documentation relating to age or identity will result in immediate removal from the convention and will result in the person in question being turned over to the local authorities.

Room Parties: It is the policy of Furry Weekend Atlanta that what goes on in the privacy of a hotel room is not of the convention’s concern. However, we do ask that room parties be kept to a reasonable size (remember the fire marshal restrictions) and that the noise be kept at a reasonable volume. Hotel security will break up parties that receive complaints. However, if Furry Weekend security personnel have reason to believe that illegal activities or activities that could threaten the welfare of the convention are taking place at a room party, they have a duty and a responsibility to act to ensure the safety of all attendees.

Alcohol and Drugs: The Georgia Department of Revenue, Alcohol and Tobacco Division is very serious about alcohol laws, and so are we. The possession or use of alcohol is prohibited in all public areas of the convention (excluding the Bar and Restaurant area) unless such possession or use has been cleared with a member of Furry Weekend Atlanta’s executive committee. The legal age to buy and consume alcoholic beverages in Georgia is 21. Anyone who knowingly contributes to the delinquency of a minor by providing alcoholic beverages to a person under the age of 21 will be expelled from the convention and reported to local authorities. Anyone who appears to be under the influence of alcohol in public will be asked to retire or forcibly removed by the authorities. Anyone who is forcibly removed will be expelled from the convention.

Furry Weekend Atlanta absolutely does not condone and will not tolerate the use or distribution of illegal substances during the convention. Any attendee who appears to be under the influence of any illegal substance during the convention will be asked to retire to their room until the effects have worn off. Any individual found to be selling or distributing illegal substances – whether in public or in a room – will be immediately expelled from the convention, barred from attending future conventions, and turned over to local authorities.

Weapons: To ensure the safety of all of our attendees and other people in the hotel, Furry Weekend will be strictly enforcing a ban on weapons at the convention. If it looks like a weapon or could easily be mistaken for a weapon, we don’t want to see it in the convention area. Functioning weapons will absolutely not be tolerated. Exceptions can be made for PROPS used during costuming events at the discretion of the director of the event, but must be cleared and tagged through security and must otherwise be kept out of sight.

Security will have discretion as to what is considered inappropriate in regards to weapons. The sole exception will be for pocket knives provided the main blade is under five inches in length. Water guns, silly string, and lasers will not be permitted for safety reasons unless such devices have been cleared with the Furry Weekend Atlanta executive committee.

Pets: While we all love animals and want them to be part of our lives, for the safety of all attendees we must ask that pets not be brought into the convention area. Exceptions are made for working service animals and animals that may be part of presentations that have been cleared with Furry Weekend Atlanta.

Merchandise Sales: Any sales of merchandise outside of the Dealers Den, Artist Alley, and Art Show areas of the convention are a violation of state law and hotel policy. Anyone caught doing so may be removed from the hotel!

Audio Recording, Video Recording, and Photography: Video and audio recording and photography for personal archival use is permitted and encouraged. However, absolutely no commercial or media usage of any video, audio, or photographic recordings collected at Furry Weekend Atlanta, by any source or obtained through any third party, is allowed unless permitted under the Furry Weekend Atlanta Media Activities policy outlined below.

Please note that you must refrain from recording or photographing any person who clearly expresses that he or she does not want to be recorded or photographed, and you may not distribute recordings or photographs that contain audio or video of said person(s), though you may edit out said person(s) and distribute the remaining footage under the policies outlined above.

Undercover or “hidden” microphones or cameras utilized with the intention of recording are prohibited for the safety and security of our attendees. Attendees found using such devices will be asked leave the convention area until such devices are disabled.

Media Activities: Any attendee wishing to use media captured at Furry Weekend Atlanta (either audio or video) for any purpose other than private use will fall under Furry Weekend Atlanta’s Media Access Policy and must have a Press Membership. Attendees bearing a membership not specifically designated as a ‘Press Membership’ agree not to act as agents of any media organization in any way, shape, or form while attending Furry Weekend Atlanta. This includes, but is not limited to: interviewing, photography, and audiovisual recording.

It shall be understood that Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc. retains all rights to all audiovisual recordings made at Furry Weekend Atlanta as well as the use of the Furry Weekend Atlanta name and logo, unless such use is specifically disclaimed or not permitted by contract.

It is the policy of Furry Weekend Atlanta that our staff not give media interviews during the convention without prior arrangements, as they have jobs that they need to be doing. We ask that this policy be respected by all parties.

Additionally, attendees not specifically bearing Press Membership and not being escorted by a staff member may not interview other attendees or portray themselves to be representatives of Furry Weekend Atlanta. They may not offer for sale or broadcast any audiovisual recordings made at Furry Weekend Atlanta without the express written consent of Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc, and that should they offer up any audiovisual recordings made at Furry Weekend Atlanta, Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc retains all rights and royalties associated with said recordings.

Trademarks: It shall be understood that Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc. owns the trademark to, and retains the rights to, the name “Furry Weekend Atlanta,” and reserves the right to determine the manner of its use.

Indemnity: By purchasing or accepting a membership to Furry Weekend Atlanta, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc., its directors and staff, the providers of its computing facilities, and the owners, directors and staff of the convention facilities utilized by Furry Weekend Atlanta, Inc., from any liability or direct, indirect, consequential, incidental, special or exemplary damages resulting from any action or inaction on your or our behalf while attending Furry Weekend Atlanta. You further agree that any court proceedings against Furry Weekend Atlanta will take place in Fulton County, Georgia, United States and that, in the event that Furry Weekend Atlanta is found liable, our liability will be limited to a total of zero ($0.00) dollars.

Final Notes: The chairman shall have the final say in any interpretation of or dispute involving these rules. Security personnel will enforce these rules and have discretionary power to stop any activities that may pose a danger to the convention or the welfare of individual attendees. Unless stated above, a first offense will result in a warning and a mark on the con badge. A second offense will result in the offender being expelled from the convention. Anyone who is expelled from the convention for rule violation is not entitled to any form of refund or compensation.

Responsibility for incidents occurring in private hotel rooms are entirely the responsibility of the person whose name is on the bill. Attendees damaging the hotel in any way are responsible for their own actions and may be asked by the hotel to pay compensation for the damage committed.

Any issues with staff members should be taken to a Director or the Chairman.

These rules are intended to keep all members of the convention safe and happy. We never anticipate having to enforce them, but are prepared to do so quickly and efficiently if necessary. Always remember that the ultimate goal of Furry Weekend Atlanta is to have fun – just keep others in mind when doing so and you should have no problems.